First MAKO Robotic-arm Knee Surgery Performed on Mokena Resident at The Midwest Institute for Robotic Surgery at Silver Cross Hospital

First MAKO Robotic-arm Knee Surgery Performed on Mokena Resident at The Midwest Institute for Robotic Surgery at Silver Cross Hospital

Posted by tsimons, Community Contributor

Pictured with Tom Antkowiak, M.D., is Mokena resident Hope Marsden, who is now pain free after having partial knee replacement robotic surgery at The Midwest Institute for Robotic Surgery at Silver Cross Hospital.

Pictured with Tom Antkowiak, M.D., is Mokena resident Hope Marsden, who is now pain free after having partial knee replacement robotic surgery at The Midwest Institute for Robotic Surgery at Silver Cross Hospital. (Posted by tsimons, Community Contributor)

Hope Marsden suffered from intense pain in her right knee. Since the bones in her knees were rubbing against one another, climbing stairs became painfully challenging. At the suggestion of her family practice physician, Marsden met with orthopedic surgeon Dr. Tom Antkowiak. She tried cortisone injections to relieve her discomfort, but the pain never subsided. Together, they decided that the best course of treatment was for her to have surgery. So on August 8, Marsden became the first patient to have partial knee replacement robotic surgery using the new Mako™ System at The Midwest Institute for Robotic Surgery at Silver Cross Hospital.

Marsden is no longer exhausted from being in so much pain. "Since Dr. Antkowiak is highly trained to use the MAKO robot, he successfully eliminated my horrible knee pain," said the 65-year-old Mokena resident. "In a few weeks, I was able to fully move my knee with no pain and walk really well. I strongly recommend others who may need this surgery to see Dr. Antkowiak. Also his attentive and caring manner made me feel comfortable asking him any questions."

Silver Cross is the only facility in Will, Grundy and Kankakee Counties offering Mako robotic-arm assisted procedures for adults living with early to mid-stage osteoarthritis. Mako Partial Knee Replacement is less invasive than traditional total knee surgery. A pre-surgical plan is created based on a CT scan of the patient's own knee, and the surgeon uses the robotic arm during surgery to resurface the diseased portion of the knee, sparing healthy bone and surrounding tissue for a more natural feeling knee. An implant is then secured in the joint to allow the knee to move smoothly again.

"Accuracy is key in planning and performing partial knee procedures," said Dr. Antkowiak. "The Mako robot helps take the guesswork out of surgery, resulting in a more accurate placement and alignment of the implant."

There are many benefits to partial knee replacement surgery. "After this type of procedure, many patients, like Hope, experience a shorter hospital stay, faster recovery, and quickly resume most activities," said Dr. Antkowiak. "Most importantly, after partial knee replacement surgery, patients experience a significant relief of pain as Hope did."

To ensure that joint replacement is a success, patients attend a special program to learn exactly what to anticipate before and after the surgery, the daily expectations of rehabilitation therapy, and what you can do to recover more quickly. If additional care is needed, patients benefit from Silver Cross Home Health and The Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (RIC) at Silver Cross Hospital for inpatient and outpatient therapy. RIC has been ranked as the #1 Rehab hospital by U.S. News & World Report for 26 years in a row.

Dr. Antkowiak also performs Mako Total Hip Replacement at The Midwest Institute for Robotic Surgery at Silver Cross Hospital. During Mako Total Hip Replacement surgery, the Mako system provides visualization of the joint and biomechanical data to guide the bone preparation and implant positioning to match the pre-surgical plan. After first preparing the femur or thighbone, the surgeon uses the robotic arm to accurately ream and shape the acetabulum socket in the hip, and then implant the cup at the correct depth and orientation. The surgeon then implants the femoral implant.

Dr. Tom Antkowiak, orthopedic surgeon, will talk about Modern Advancements in the Treatment of Hip Pain on Thursday, Dec. 8. 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. He will discuss how an innovative robotic arm can be a solution for those suffering and in need of a total hip replacement to restore mobility and help you get back to an active lifestyle. The free program will be held in the Silver Cross Conference Center, 1890 Silver Cross Blvd., New Lenox. Register to attend at www.midwestroboticsurgery.org.

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